Univar Solutions Opens New Food Solution Center and Innovation Hub at The Hatchery Chicago to Foster Emerging Food and Beverage Innovation

The Company's new Food Solution Center will prioritize community engagement and sustainable economic growth in the West Side of Chicago community, as it serves aspiring food entrepreneurs 

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Jan. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Univar Solutions Inc. (NYSE: UNVR) ("Univar Solutions" or "the Company"), a global chemical and ingredient distributor and provider of value-added services, today announced a collaboration with The Hatchery Chicago, a nonprofit food business incubator, to foster food and beverage innovation in one of North America's largest incubator facilities. The Hatchery Chicago is now home to Univar Solutions new Food Solution Center, which is part of a specialized network of Solution Centers around the globe. These state-of-the-art centers of excellence include formulation labs, research and development centers and test kitchens that help deliver innovative solutions across a range of industries.

 "At Univar Solutions, what we do is rooted in our purpose to help keep our communities healthy, fed, clean and safe. Launching a new Food Solution Center and sponsoring The Hatchery Chicago demonstrates our commitment to support local communities at the growing epicenter of food ingredient innovation," said Kevin Hack, vice president of global food ingredients at Univar Solutions. "As collaboration and innovation are at the heart of our Solution Centers, we are thrilled to be a part of the entrepreneurial and creative collaboration happening within this exciting development hub, to help our suppliers and customers find their next sustainable food innovation."

Through the Company's work at The Hatchery Chicago, Univar Solutions hopes to foster a spirit of innovation and drive solutions for the technical challenges shaping the future of food. This includes helping to support The Hatchery Chicago's advancement of women owned and Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) owned businesses. Univar Solutions will focus on meeting consumer demands for the latest high-quality ingredients and developing clean label food products that help deliver on the need for healthier, more sustainable ingredients. Combining culinary science with application development support, Univar Solutions will work closely with its customers, suppliers and the local food and beverage community to nurture creative problem-solving and serve innovative formulations, recipes and ingredient kits to help brands of all sizes grow and thrive.    

"Our food scientists and technical specialists look forward to bringing better products to market at Univar Solutions' first dedicated Food Solution Center in North America," said Dr. Andrew Mint, director, global Solution Centers. "Having both culinary chefs and culinary development scientists collaborating under one roof will help take customer projects to the next level, driving technical excellence within the North America food industry and globally as we deliver innovative solutions together."

Every day a diverse team of food scientists, chemists, culinary experts and multidisciplinary specialists come together to share the latest consumer insights and help solve real-world challenges. As a result, this team helps create valuable and more sustainable solutions that have the potential to transform the world – helping communities live healthier, cleaner, safer and better lives.

The Hatchery Chicago is one of the largest food and beverage incubators in the United States. Located on the West Side of Chicago, the facility helps enable BIPOC, women-owned, and community resident entrepreneurs to build and grow successful food and beverage businesses, provides job training and placement and helps create sustainable economic growth with new job opportunities. Univar Solutions is proud to sponsor these diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives through its dedicated Food Solution Center located onsite, which will focus on developing specialty food ingredient services and solutions while also contributing to the innovative West Side ecosystem.

Discover more at univarsolutions.com/industries/food-ingredients.

About Univar Solutions
Univar Solutions (NYSE: UNVR) is a leading global specialty chemical and ingredient distributor representing a premier portfolio from the world's leading producers. With the industry's largest private transportation fleet and technical sales force, unparalleled logistics know-how, deep market and regulatory knowledge, formulation and recipe development, and leading digital tools, the Company is well-positioned to offer tailored solutions and value-added services to a wide range of markets, industries, and applications. While fulfilling its purpose to help keep communities healthy, fed, clean and safe, Univar Solutions is committed to helping customers and suppliers innovate and focus on Growing Together. Learn more at univarsolutions.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain statements relating to future events and our intentions, beliefs, expectations, and predictions for the future, which are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations and assumptions. A detailed discussion of these factors and uncertainties is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Potential factors that could affect such forward-looking statements include, among others: the ultimate geographic spread of the COVID-19 pandemic; the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; actions that may be taken by governmental authorities to address or otherwise mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and our customers and suppliers; the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations and financial condition; other fluctuations in general economic conditions, particularly in industrial production and the demands of our customers; significant changes in the business strategies of producers or in the operations of our customers; increased competitive pressures, including as a result of competitor consolidation; significant changes in the pricing, demand and availability of chemicals; our levels of indebtedness, the restrictions imposed by our debt instruments, and our ability to obtain additional financing when needed; the broad spectrum of laws and regulations that we are subject to, including extensive environmental, health and safety laws and regulations; an inability to integrate the business and systems of companies we acquire, including of Nexeo Solutions, Inc., or to realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions; potential business disruptions and security breaches, including cybersecurity incidents; an inability to generate sufficient working capital; increases in transportation and fuel costs and changes in our relationship with third party providers; accidents, safety failures, environmental damage, product quality and liability issues and recalls; major or systemic delivery failures involving our distribution network or the products we carry; operational risks for which we may not be adequately insured; ongoing litigation and other legal and regulatory risks; challenges associated with international operations; exposure to interest rate and currency fluctuations; potential impairment of goodwill; liabilities associated with acquisitions, ventures and strategic investments; negative developments affecting our pension plans and multi-employer pensions; labor disruptions associated with the unionized portion of our workforce; and the other factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution you that the forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events or results, and that actual events or results may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "plan," "seek, "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Any forward-looking information presented herein is made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Univar Solutions Inc.